HAPPY LEAP YEAR 2012

Birthstone – Amethyst Flower – Primrose

February, with only 28 days, is the shortest of our months, but every four years there is a 29th day. This year, February boasts of 29 days. Do you remember what they taught us in school about leap year? Do they still teach anything in school about it? Our calendar year is 365 days. But the solar year, the actual time to revolve around the sun is about 3651/4 days. So every four years, a calendar day of 24 hours is added to the calendar.

Did you know that the solar year is actually a little less than 365 and 1/4 – by 11 minutes? So three times every 400 years, leap year is leaped over! In other words, a century year cannot be a leap year unless it is divisible by 400. Thus, 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years, but 1600, 2000 and 2400 are leap years.

Do you know of anyone with a leap year birthday? I have listed a few famous “Leapers.”

1468 Pope Paul III – last Renaissance pope

1712 General Montcalm – Hero of the French & Indian War

1736 Ann Lee, Shaker movement, Manchester England, Founded the Shaker movement and brought it to America in 1776.

1792 Karl Baer – Embryologist, found mammals develop from eggs

1792 Gioacchino Rossini – Italian composer (The Barber of Seville, William Tell)

1792 Karl Baer – Embryologist, (found mammals develop from eggs)

1828 Antonio Guzman Blanco, president Venezuela

1844 French Ensor Chadwick – Naval officer at battle of Santiago de Cuba

1864 Jan Svatopluk – Czech poet

1864 Albert Patry – Elbing, East Prussia, Germany, Actor

1864 Alice Davenport – USA, silent screen comedic actress

1876 John Harwood – UK, Actor

1888 John Costigan, American regionalist printmaker, and a cousin of the noted American showman, George M. Cohan.

1892 Augusta Christine Savage – Augusta Christine Fells – American sculptor and educator who battled racism to secure a place for African American women in the art world. She became the first Black member of the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptures in 1934.

1896 Ranchhodji Mararji Desai – 6th Prime Minister of India from March 24, 1977 to July 15, 1979. At 83, he was the oldest Prime Minister of India.

1896 Stanley Swash, CEO (Woolworths)

1896 William A. Wellman – American Film Director, (first picture to win an Oscar (1928) “WINGS”)

1904 Adolph Blaine Charles David Earl Frederick Gerald Hubert Irvin John Kenneth Lloyd Martin Nero Oliver Paul Quincy Randolph Sherman Thomas Uncas Victor William Xerxes Yancy Zeus Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenberdorft Sr., Germany; he had a Christian name for every letter in the alphabet, shortened it to Mr Wolfe Plus 585 Sr. The world’s longest name officially used by a person.

1904 Jimmy Dorsey (James Francis Dorsey) – Legendary saxophonist, onductor, songwriter and composer. He formed an orchestra with his brother, Tommy Dorsey, lasting from 1933 to 1935, and then led his own orchestra, rejoining Tommy’s orchestra in 1953 and taking over the orchestra at Tommy’s death.

1908 Edward B. Taylor – Photographer – documented Dayton, Ohio’s African American culture in photographs for nearly 40 years. He was Dayton’s first Black commercial photographer.

I think about all my grandparents more often than most, I imagine. And I’m grateful to them – and for them.

It was late in February, 1988. We were in college. As mid-term exams were pressing on my schedule, I received a phone call from my parents. Something was wrong with Grandma.

The doctors decided to do emergency exploratory surgery, not so common for someone who was about to
be 88 years old. It was even less common in our small-town hospital.

“Should I come home?” I asked. It was just an hour’s drive.

“No, you need to stay on schedule with your exams. We’ll call you tomorrow and let you know how things are going.”

I thought about Grandma as I went to bed that night. I was thinking about her again when I awoke long before sunrise to go drive my school bus route. She was an early riser, too.

When I returned to our apartment after parking the school bus, I knew something wasn’t right the very moment I drove up; Linda’s car was still outside our apartment. She should have been at class already. She was waiting for me as I walked through the door, and I could tell by the look on her face that something was wrong. Really wrong.

“What is it?” I asked impatiently.

“Grandma made it through the surgery, but she died in the night….your parents called just a little while ago…”
If she said something more, I didn’t hear it. My mind trailed off into that place where past memories play back in slow-motion and the present seems surreal.

I was rewinding to the memories of sitting at Grandma’s modest kitchen table, playing cards together, while her homemade bread was baking in the oven. The candy dish in her living room with the pink wintergreen mints. Walking over to Ann’s Café together for dinner. And how she always called me “Davey.”

If she’d have lived another handful of days, Grandma would have been 88 years old. The church was packed for her funeral on a very cold Minnesota winter morning. My brother and I were among the casket bearers. It was an honor.

Grandma was a tremendous example of hard work, dedication and perseverance. Despite numerous adversities and Grandpa’s early death, she met life head on and chose to live it well. By earthly standards, she didn’t have too much. And yet, she had something extraordinarily priceless that many never own: she had contentment.

I think about all my grandparents more often than most, I imagine. And I’m grateful to them – and for them. And still today, I always think of my Grandma when people ask me if I prefer to be called “Dave” or “David.”

I always respond with this: “You can call me either one. But only Grandma got to call me Davey.”

Remember Well.

What We Learned

Learning is a critical component of life. Lifestyle gurus tell us; folks with a plan for continuous intellectual growth occupy the ranks of the happiest and healthiest folks on the planet. Furthermore, those who share this psychological growth with close friends and family score at the very top of the “happy-o-meter.” This is a mighty important theory and certainly one that deserves a Gail and Toni corollary. So, look out Dr. Freud, here goes our first endeavor into the scientific world of psycho-happy science.

G&T Corollary of Happiness

If learning leads to happiness – learning on vacation leads to bliss. To us, vacation is really living. We don’t believe vacation equates to expensive. Some of our best vacations are those short getaways to places like Adair, Iowa for the Iowa Sheep and Wool Festival, or Sabula, Iowa for some “island time.” But early each January, we stretch our journey to include the warm sands and tropical breezes of Mexico. We always find these little excursions to be “learning experiences.” So sit back, prop your feet up and enjoy this 50+ Lifestyles Exclusive Report: What we learned in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Iguanas

Iguanas are lizards – distant cousins to the crocodile, alligator and the garden lizard of our native Oklahoma. They range in size from cute little three inch guys running around the rocks to giant four footers peering at you with a hungry look in their eye. As you might imagine, our first order of business is to assess just how many tourists are eaten each year by rogue Iguanas on the prowl.

So listen up – here’s the good news. According to the internet, Iguanas are herbivores – they prefer vegetarian pizza to quivering human flesh. Just how reliable is this internet report on their proclivity for plant mater over flesh? We had cause for concern. Each morning as we enjoyed breakfast on the balcony of our condo, we counted the Iguanas sunning themselves on the branches of nearby trees. Most mornings, we could see six, eight and sometimes 10 of these guys perched on the highest limbs. They ranged in color from deep green to bright orange with splashes of red and green. They’re pretty well camouflaged, but once you adjust your eyes, you realize the place is overflowing with two or three foot lizards. Our research continued.

One day on the beach, we met a young girl, who shared our skepticism for the whole lizard diet thing. She told us of her own scientific theory – if the Iguanas will eat a ham sandwich, the human race might soon follow. To test her theory, she gingerly approached a respectable-sized Iguana with ham sandwich in hand. She quickly offered the sandwich to the lizard and bolted back to a safe distance to observe. To her dismay, as soon as the sandwich hit the ground – dozens of hidden lizards appeared out of nowhere and fought for the morsel. Apparently, she didn’t stick around to see if they gobbled the pickle, but not the pork. So, the mystery remains.

Chihuahua dogs – Stereotype or reality?

Popular culture would have you believe the Mexican people are wild and crazy about a microscopic breed of dog – the Chihuahua. Taco Bell did their part to reinforce the popular notion with their billion dollar ad campaign featuring “Gidget,” the talking Chihuahua.

Not to change the subject or anything – but Gidget passed away in July 2009 at her home in Beverly Hills. She was 15 years old at the time, which translates into 105 in people years. But, we all know the California lifestyles of the rich and famous lead to long healthy lives. Look at Current Trophy Husband, Frank’s hero – George Burns – who worked well into his 90s. But, we’re not talking about long life; we’re talking learning, happiness and Chihuahua dogs.

Each morning, we took a leisurely stroll down Puerto Vallarta’s boardwalk. Our guess is half the people out had their pooch along for the excursion. And, you guessed it, a large percentage of these dogs were of Chihuahua ancestry. We saw big Chihuahuas, tiny ones, Chihuahuas with t-shirts, and Chihuahua poodle mixes. So yes, Virgina; Chihuahuas are very popular.

Jicama – the mystery vegetable

Finally, tickling one’s taste buds brings gastrointestinal happiness. Jicamas are a root plant – a cross between a potato and a turnip – except they taste a whole lot better than turnips (just saying). We have eaten them before as a healthful and crunchy raw snack. While in Mexico, we ate our first one served as a salad/garnish at a road-side taco stand. As CTH, Frank enjoyed a pair of grilled marlin tacos, we helped ourselves to the side salad. We like them so much we incorporated them into nearly every meal we prepared in our own condo kitchen.

The recipe section can be found elsewhere in this publication, but allow us to share our own recipe for fun:

Jicama Garnish
Peel and dice a medium sized Jicama into half inch cubes.
Add, two jalapeño cut into very small slices, a half cup of diced carrots and a large bunch of chopped cilantro.
Top with the juice of two fresh limes
Toss and serve chilled with a freshly made Margarita

How’s that for learning and happiness?

It is commonly stated that self-esteem is the greatest gift that a parent can give to a child, and considering how society is today, this has never been more true. To truly succeed in a world where only the best students get accepted into good colleges, and only the most efficient workers maintain their jobs while others get cut, it is paramount that our children be confident, well-rounded and capable. As parents, mentors and teachers, it is our duty to not just instruct our children, but to show them the way.

Psychologist Erik Erikson theorized that children journey through successive stages of cognitive development, each which presents an important step to cultivating their adult personalities. In the first 18 months, the child builds his or her sense of trust and mistrust in the world, and more specifically whether their needs will be met. From ages two to five, the next two stages are suggested to have the greatest impact on a growing self-esteem: first is autonomy versus shame and doubt, then initiative versus guilt. These are important because they pertain to how the child will perceive the competence of their own actions, as well as how others will value their efforts. The best way to deal with children at this time is to not discount their abilities simply because they are young; allow them to help, to do and to experiment. If they make a mess or a mistake, it is no big deal. Comfort them, tell them it is okay and clean it up together. Do not foster the feeling of guilt for trying, or the child may proceed poorly through the preadolescent stage of industry versus inferiority.

It is damaging to a developing self-esteem to say, “you are too little/young/weak/etc.” Although this may seem to be true of many situations, there is often still a place for education, bonding and industry. If you are doing grown-up work and a child takes interest, give them a task that is easily manageable and most importantly safe. These could be tasks like holding something for you, bringing a tool, measuring flour, sweeping, or many others. Teach them car parts, how to bake and otherwise involve them in as many activities mundane or otherwise as possible. And always thank them, encourage accomplishment and entertain questions that they may (and will) have.

Successful passage through these stages will set the child up for healthy adolescence. They will learn to be industrious within safe boundaries set by the parents, which will aid in the development of a clear and well-adjusted identity. To achieve this, parents must be fully engaged in their children’s lives without smothering, sheltering or becoming what is commonly known as “helicoptering.” Children should have a great deal of choice, but not complete free reign. They must learn through experience what it is like to succeed, fail, set and achieve goals, and otherwise that the key to a good life is autonomous and responsible choices.

Children should be raised with unconditional positive regard. This means that regardless of their actions, they must know and feel that they are loved. Parents should strive to use reinforcement and not punishment, because this will achieve the desired behavior without instilling fear, shame and/or inferiority. This can be facilitated by avoiding a trap that parents fall into far too often, and that is to not just tell them that they did something wrong, but to actually show them what is correct. Children are excellent observers, but poor interpreters, so it is very important to lead by example and refrain from taking the “do as I say, not as I do” approach. As a parent, your number one priority is the welfare of your child; why not do well what so many fall short on nowadays? A successful child is perhaps the greatest masterpiece, so invest the effort that is due.

For more information about the Child Abuse Council’s prevention and education programs, you can visit at www.chilabuseqc.org.

February marks National Sweet Potato Month; enjoy these super spud ideas from your Hy-Vee dietitians.

Select and store sweet potatoes
• For the best flavor, choose sweet potatoes that are firm and do not have any cracks, bruises or soft spots.
• Sweet potatoes should be stored in a cool, dark and well-ventilated place.
• Avoid refrigerating sweet potatoes, as the cold temperature and negatively alter their flavor.
Health benefits of sweet potatoes

Antioxidants. Beta-carotene gives the sweet potato its deep orange color. One medium potato also provides us with over 200% of our Daily Value of vitamin A. Vitamin A plays a key role in the health of our eyes, skin, skeletal and soft tissue, and even our teeth!

Anthocyanin lends the purple sweet potato its unusual violet hue. Purple sweet potatoes contain antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties similar to red wine.

Blood Sugar Regulation. The high fiber content of sweet potatoes slows the release of sugar into the bloodstream, helping to keep blood sugar steady.

New Ways to Enjoy Sweet Potatoes

1.) Wash and peel sweet potatoes; cut into long ?-inch-wide strips; toss with olive oil and cayenne pepper. Bake at 425 degrees F for 25 minutes for crispy sweet potato fries with a kick! The fat content of the oil will help with absorption of the beta-carotene in the sweet potatoes.

2.) Purée cooked sweet potatoes with bananas, maple syrup and cinnamon. Top with chopped walnuts. The healthy fat in walnuts also helps with beta-carotene absorption.

3.) Sweet potato pancakes:
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup store-bought pancake mix
1 small pinch ground nutmeg
1 small sweet potato, boiled, peeled and mashed
Cook batter according to pancake mix directions.

4.) Make your own baby food by puréeing cooked sweet potato, adding water for correct consistency.

5.) Microwave a medium-sized spud on HIGH for 4-6 minutes. Cut off the top fourth of the potato and scoop out the flesh. Blend the inside of the potato with a splash of skim milk, a spoonful of maple syrup and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. Stuff the mixture back into the potato shell and sprinkle with chopped pecans.

6.) Grill them. Wash, leave peel on and cut into wedges. Marinate with bottled low-sodium teriyaki sauce and grill until tender.

Information is not intended as medical advice. Consult your health care provider for individual guidance.

Janet Macon is a registered dietician at Hy-Vee. She can be reached at (563) 324-9948 or jmacon@hy-vee.com.

DON’T WAIT SIX WEEKS! GO ONLINE TODAY

Every year in early February, the world’s most famous groundhog receives a lot of attention. On Groundhog Day, the world’s furriest weather reporter, Punxsutawney Phil, pops out of his home to forecast one of two possibilities: an early spring or six more weeks of winter.

Regardless of what Punxsutawney Phil predicts, there’s no reason for you to wait six weeks to do business with Social Security. Whatever the weather, you can visit our online office from the convenience and comfort of your warm and cozy home or office. Just go to www.socialsecurity.gov.

You can do so many things online. And it’s so easy, even a groundhog could do it … if eligible. Below are a few of the things you can do at www.socialsecurity.gov.

• Get an instant, personalized estimate of future retirement benefits with the Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator
• Apply for Social Security retirement, spouse’s, or disability benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline
• Apply for Medicare at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly
• Request a replacement Medicare card at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicarecard/
• Learn about Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp, where you can find a link to apply

Punxsutawney Phil has called for six more weeks of winter 87 percent of the time. We suspect that’s because he just likes to stay in his comfortable home. You can too, on Groundhog Day or any day, by going online.

Whatever the weather, learn all about the things you can do online at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices.

A VALENTINE TIP FROM SOCIAL SECURITY

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, making this a popular time of year for proclamations of love. Such displays of affection can be as simple and sweet as a heart with a “be mine” message, or as life altering as a vow before the altar.

If you happen to be a newlywed who is head over heels in love, you may not be focused on things such as taxes or Social Security, but you should be. If you plan to exchange your maiden name for a married name — including hyphenated names such as Smith-Jones — be sure you let us know.

Telling us about your name change shortly after your marriage will help us accurately keep track of your earnings and will ensure that you and your family get the Social Security retirement, disability, and survivors coverage you’re entitled to. Also, if the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security records do not show the same name and Social Security number, your Federal income tax refund could be delayed.

If you continue to use your maiden name consistently throughout your working years, you do not need to contact us. However, if you decide to change your name at a later time, you should let us know, so that we can update your Social Security record and send you a Social Security card with your new name.

There’s no need to pay someone else to mail in the information for you. Changing your name with Social Security is a quick, easy, and free service. Just go online to www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber, learn what documents you need, and click on “Fill Out and Print an application (Form SS-5).” You also can call us at 1-800-772-1213 to obtain the form. We will need the completed application along with a marriage certificate or divorce decree verifying your old and new names. If you were born outside the United States, you also need proof of your U.S. citizenship or proof that you are lawfully living in the U.S. You can bring or mail these documents to us.

You may be focused on the one you love, and we don’t blame you. But if you like us (we hope you do) please click on the Facebook icon at our homepage and “like” us on Facebook. Also, you can follow us on Twitter too. Look for our Facebook and Twitter icons at www.socialsecurity.gov. We share information daily that can help you and all your Valentines.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Social Security.

BE IN THE KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

We’re in the dead of winter. In many areas of the country, that means that we could be in for some rough weather. When severe weather strikes, parents of young children are well aware that they need to check for school closings as they prepare for the day. But sometimes inclement weather can be severe enough to close down government buildings and offices as well — including Social Security.

If the weather outside is frightful, you should check our website before making a trip to a Social Security office. The place to go to find out about emergency office closings is www.socialsecurity.gov/emergency.

Social Security’s office closings and emergency page provides information on specific offices that are closed due to weather and emergencies, as well as reminders about upcoming Federal holidays during which government offices are closed. The website also offers a link to a comprehensive list of Federal holidays throughout the year.

To the right side of the page, you’ll find helpful resources from other government agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Weather Service. They can help you to prepare for weather emergencies before they happen.

We also provide information about alternatives to visiting an office, helpful even when offices are open. For example, many of our most popular services are available online at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Find out what types of benefits you may be eligible for by using our benefits eligibility screening tool and then apply online. If you are already getting benefits, you can use our website to sign up for direct deposit so that your payments won’t be interrupted during weather emergencies. You can learn about these and other services available on our secure website by visiting our Online Services page at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices.

If you’d like to be alerted to office closings, that’s easy to do. Just visit www.socialsecurity.gov/emergency and subscribe to the page by selecting the “Get email updates” link next to the red envelope. Then you’ll get an email alert any time there is a change, such as an office closing.

Is the weather outside frightful? Never fear, Social Security service is always so delightful at www.socialsecurity.gov.

By Joe Hutter

Did you know that one-third of Iowans over 65 live alone? These same Iowans, who live alone, are also willing to talk on the phone or at their front door to a stranger. The lowest of the low, of non-violent criminals are those who take advantage of seniors. Seniors usually save some money and live in homes that need some upkeep that they can no longer do themselves. Seniors need to be careful and look out for each other.

The legislators are now back in session, and there are some things that Iowans should do. The law allows the attorney general to seek a civil penalty up to $5,000 against those who commit a fraud against older people. In Illinois, the attorney general can seek up to $10,000. Iowa should increase the penalty for those who commit crimes against seniors over 65 years of age. For other violent crimes committed against seniors, the penalties should be doubled. Iowa ranks fourth in the number of residents over 65 and third in the number of residents over the age of 85. It makes Iowa the place to go for scam artists. Contact your legislators and ask them to consider raising the penalty for people, or should I say scum bags, who commit crimes against seniors. This goes to both Iowa and Illinois residents, as criminals pay no attention to borders.

The River Bend Transit is now providing rides on Sundays for seniors from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., according to Randy Zobrist of River Bend Transit. If you need a ride, call (563) 386-1350. Generations Area Agency on Aging received a grant for this service until June 30, 2012. You need to reserve the day and time to catch a ride in Scott County. Chris Merritt, executive director of Generations, hopes this program is successful so it can continue in the future. Ride the bus and avoid the fuss. The bus can handle up to 15 passengers!

Our S.A.L.T. (Seniors And Law enforcement Together) group will be meeting on February 22, 2012 at CASI at 9:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome to come, and there are no dues to pay. Members of our local police departments and from the Scott County Sheriff’s office will be there, too! If you have any questions, call Pam at (563) 326-8217.

Take care!